Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07RIGA416
2007-05-31 11:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Riga
Cable title:
Latvia elects its new president: Valdis Zatlers
how-toVZCZCXRO1046 OO RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHRA #0416 1511154 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 311154Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY RIGA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4075 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS RIGA 000416
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL LG
SUBJECT: Latvia elects its new president: Valdis Zatlers
Ref: a) Riga 411 b) Riga 392 c) Riga 322
UNCLAS RIGA 000416
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL LG
SUBJECT: Latvia elects its new president: Valdis Zatlers
Ref: a) Riga 411 b) Riga 392 c) Riga 322
1. (U) On May 31, after an hour-long debate, the Saeima (Latvian
parliament) elected Latvia's new president - Valdis Zatlers,
candidate of the coalition parties, with 58 votes. 39 lawmakers
voted for the opposition's candidate, Aivars Endzins, one member
voted for neither candidate and two members were absent. (Bio
information on Zalters in ref b)
2. (U) Although the ballot was secret, it is assumed that the 58
votes in favor of Zatlers consist of the votes of all members of the
coalition party (57) and one vote of the ethnic Russian opposition
party For Human Rights in the United Latvia (PCTVL). Endzins
appears to have received all the votes of the parliamentary factions
of Harmony Center (SC) and New Era ( JL) and a few from PCTVL. By
law, the start of Zatler's four year term as President will be set
by the Saeima. (ref c) It is widely expected, though, that this
will occur on July 8 as the term of the current president, Vaira
Vike-Freiberga, expires on July 7.
Waser
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL LG
SUBJECT: Latvia elects its new president: Valdis Zatlers
Ref: a) Riga 411 b) Riga 392 c) Riga 322
1. (U) On May 31, after an hour-long debate, the Saeima (Latvian
parliament) elected Latvia's new president - Valdis Zatlers,
candidate of the coalition parties, with 58 votes. 39 lawmakers
voted for the opposition's candidate, Aivars Endzins, one member
voted for neither candidate and two members were absent. (Bio
information on Zalters in ref b)
2. (U) Although the ballot was secret, it is assumed that the 58
votes in favor of Zatlers consist of the votes of all members of the
coalition party (57) and one vote of the ethnic Russian opposition
party For Human Rights in the United Latvia (PCTVL). Endzins
appears to have received all the votes of the parliamentary factions
of Harmony Center (SC) and New Era ( JL) and a few from PCTVL. By
law, the start of Zatler's four year term as President will be set
by the Saeima. (ref c) It is widely expected, though, that this
will occur on July 8 as the term of the current president, Vaira
Vike-Freiberga, expires on July 7.
Waser